Not So With You

Mark 10:35–45

One of the challenges of being a disciple of Jesus is learning to see the world differently. Our culture often teaches us to put ourselves first, look out for our own interests, and do whatever it takes to get ahead. But Jesus calls us to a different way of living. He calls us to serve others rather than seeking power and to love our neighbors rather than simply looking out for ourselves.

Recently, I was at the grocery store when I witnessed a fight break out in front of a Pokémon card vending machine. Three men were fighting because one man at the front of the line was attempting to buy out the entire machine so he could resell the cards for a profit. One of the other men shouted that this was a game for kids and that the man was making the cards unaffordable for them. The man trying to buy all the cards responded that he did not care about the kids because he was only interested in making money for himself.

As I watched this unfold, I couldn't help but think about how often our world operates this way. We can become so focused on what benefits us that we forget to consider how our actions affect others. We measure success by what we gain rather than by how we care for our neighbors.

In Mark 10:35–45, James and John ask Jesus for positions of honor in His kingdom. They want to sit at His right and left, and the other disciples become angry when they hear about it. Yet their anger may reveal that they are just as concerned about their own status. While Jesus is teaching them about the kingdom of God, they are still competing to see who will be the greatest.

Jesus responds by explaining that worldly rulers use their authority to dominate others, but His disciples are called to live differently. He tells them, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43, NRSVUE). He then reminds them that He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life for others.

“But it is not so among you.” (Mark 10:43, NRSVUE)

Those words are a powerful reminder that following Jesus means rejecting the world's obsession with personal gain. Jesus calls us to measure greatness not by how many people serve us but by how faithfully we serve others.

This does not mean we cannot pursue our goals or enjoy the good things in life. It means we should never become so consumed with our own success that we stop caring about the people around us. Our neighbors are not obstacles to our success. They are people created in the image of God, worthy of our love and compassion.

Sometimes, serving others requires a significant sacrifice. Other times, it simply means choosing generosity over greed, kindness over selfishness, or someone else's needs over our own convenience.

As Christians, we must continually ask ourselves whether we are allowing the values of the world to shape our lives or allowing Jesus to transform us. We may never find ourselves fighting over Pokémon cards, but we can still fall into the trap of believing that what is best for us matters more than what is best for others.

Jesus calls us to something better. He calls us to follow His example by living lives marked by humility, generosity, and service.

So, what would change in our homes, workplaces, churches, and communities if we truly lived by Jesus' words, “Not so with you”?

Perhaps we would spend less time trying to get ahead and more time helping others along the way. Perhaps we would become less concerned about what we can gain and more concerned about what we can give.

The world tells us to look out for ourselves, but Jesus calls us to look out for one another. That is what it means to follow Him.

When the world says, “Put yourself first,” Jesus reminds us, “Not so with you.”

In God's grip,

Pastor Chuck Church